> General Discussions
God Is Hell???
Sorin:
"Well if everyone is going to eventually be saved, as you teach Mr. Smith, then why should those of us who are following Christ now, not just go out and live it up? Why shouldn’t we go out and fornicate, get drunk, steal, kill, or do anything we want? Why not just enjoy life and have a happy time? Why should we obey God or pray or go to Church, or be concerned for other people now if we are all going to be saved later anyway?"
That's pretty much the same thing my older brother {who goes to church every sunday mind you} said to me when I said there is no hell.
And I said, well you obviously don't really want to follow Christ, and worship God, you're ONLY doing it to get out of hell. The second you
believed there is no hell, you wouldn't be able to wait to start sinning again. And I also said, then how do you explain the people who no longer believe in hell, and know there is no hell, yet they STILL want to obey God. Aren't they the one's that really love God, and don't just worship Him to get out of some fabled Christian hell?
Then he said, well judging by the way you live your life, the smoking, the drinking {and yes, when I get angry} the cussing- why should I believe you? You're obviously not a good example etc.. etc...
And he is right, but also wrong. Because, just because he and like the pastor, and our uncle who is a pastor he used as an example of those who clean their bowls on the outside, and may do some good works, like raising money for the poor, etc....
They still teach that Jesus is NOT The Savior of The World, because you can't be the Savior of the world, if you don't actually save the world. And they don't believe He will, they believe God will torture people with real fire for all eternity and they see no problem with it.
But hey, they're clean -cut Pentecostal Christians who would never drink a sip of an alcoholic beverage and always dress sharp when they go to church, oh and they wear suits and ties. So I guess they're telling the truth. I mean, look how 'clean' they are {on the outside}...
-Sorin
Deborah-Leigh:
Good one Sorin! :D
Yes Joe, God is the LOF either to wrath and indignation or to trials and tribulations. Both wrath and tribulation are from His Spirit but they result in two different outcomes. Trial and tribulations lead to change in the children of God and wrath and indignation to destruction of the children of disobedience. Those who perish shall not perish forever either. They too will be saved as by fire! ;)
Two different experiences from the SAME fire? I think so :D
Peace to you
Arcturus
Heidi:
I hope it is OK to reply to this post as it was posted in Dec 2007?......I found it very interesting and maybe others will as well.
I have been led by the Spirit of God to this post, having read the LOF installments, I have been reminded yet again how humbling it is to know the truth and that the truth will set you free....I have also had family and friends say "why not live it up large now, drink as much as you want etc. etc......". Whereas for me....I love God and feel humbled by it all and have a desire not to sin and as I walk in the spirit and grow by His grace become more like Christ Jesus everyday.
--- Quote from: hillsbororiver on December 05, 2007, 06:34:20 PM ---
"Well if everyone is going to eventually be saved, as you teach Mr. Smith, then why should those of us who are following Christ now, not just go out and live it up? Why shouldn’t we go out and fornicate, get drunk, steal, kill, or do anything we want? Why not just enjoy life and have a happy time? Why should we obey God or pray or go to Church, or be concerned for other people now if we are all going to be saved later anyway?"
This is not an isolated argument—I get many such e-mails. Sometimes I just reply by saying: "Sir, it is not even necessary for me to answer your questions—you have answered them YOURSELF! You yourself have condemned your own darkened and unintelligent heart by the very stupid and foolish questions you ask. You prove to yourself by asking such things, that you do not really love your fellowman or God. You would PREFER to live a wicked life of selfish carnality and a continuous quest for physical pleasures of the flesh. You truly do not see the value of living a righteous, godly, and spiritual life. You condemn yourself as being unworthy of the Kingdom of God."
So here we have people who claim to believe in Jesus Christ and the goodness of God, who nonetheless, utterly condemn my teaching that Jesus Christ will SAVE THE WORLD, and often state that it is "I" who will be tortured in hell fire for all eternity for denying that there is such a place of eternal torture. Yet they themselves would prefer to live an ungodly life of sin and pleasure rather than to serve God from the heart out of love. I believe I have the mind of Christ when I say that all such attitudes will be judged in God’s consuming fire.
http://bible-truths.com/lake4.html
--- End quote ---
Craig:
--- Quote ---.I have also had family and friends say "why not live it up large now, drink as much as you want etc. etc......". Whereas for me....I love God and feel humbled by it all and have a desire not to sin and as I walk in the spirit and grow by His grace become more like Christ Jesus everyday.
--- End quote ---
Wow Heidi you are so right. I have followed Christ all my life. The old I, did not "live it up" because of the fear instilled by religion, now I don't "live it up" because of the love I have for my Father and not wanting to disappoint Him that loves every person in the world.
The old me, sinned and asked for forgiveness and mercy and hoped that my Father would not torture me for my sins, the new me sins and am disappointed that I fail my loving Father so much. The old me was scared of death and where I would spend eternity, the new me looking forward to my physical death and the first or second resurrection to either rule with Christ or to be finally purged and cleansed of the awful beast within me. I'm deserving of the second and it won't be fun, but either way I am in the hand of a loving God and he will perfect me.
Craig
Chris R:
Its sorta funny this thread was ressurected, as i was just reading the lake of fire series part one a few days ago.
For me those first months of reading Rays site melted about 500 lbs of ugly hate buried in my guts, It's easy to hate when you felt God had the same feeling toward mankind, But now...wow..what a difference, i dont have hate for anything anymore, gone...totally amazing...sure, we still have moments of anger, but nothing like i had years ago.
Gives a whole new meaning to a peace that passeth all understanding.
Peace
Chris R
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